How to zoom in on a Mac

Do you find yourself squinting at the screen sometimes, hoping that something on the screen is just "big"? Whether you have poor eyesight or just want to zoom in on the screen to see the close-up, it's easy to do, just press some buttons. This article will show you how to zoom in on a close-up view of your browser or desktop.

Method 1: Zoom within the browser

1. 1 start the browser. Any browser will do: This method is available in all browsers!
2. 2 Press Command and + (+/= button). Each repetition will gradually increase the zoom. In different browsers you can zoom in to varying degrees:
   • Safari: Up to 7 times times.
   • Chrome and Firefox: up to 8 times times.
   • Opera: Unlimited magnification, each of which is smaller than other browsers.
   • Pressing Command-0 will reset your zoom level in all browsers.
   • Pressing command-(minus sign) will zoom out in all browsers.

Method 2: Enlarge the screen

2. 1 turn on universal access. From the Apple menu, choose Preferences. In the System Preferences panel, click Generic Access.
4. 2 Click the Watch button. In the universal access Control Panel, click the Watch button to adjust the various visual controls for the interface.
6. 3 Set the zoom to ON. In the View Control Panel, locate and click the Zoom Control button. You can also press the command-option-8 to activate (or deactivate) the Zoom command.
8. 4 Click "Options". Find the option to the right of the Zoom activation button... button This will let you fine-tune the zoom control.
   • Zoom to Max: When you press the enlarged keyboard shortcut (command-option-=), your screen zooms in to the magnification you set here. You can set the magnification to any multiple of 1.1 times times the current screen size and 20 times times!
   • Zoom to min: When you press the Zoom keyboard shortcut (Command-option-minus), the screen will only shrink to this preset level.
     • In both cases, continuing to hold down the keyboard shortcut will continue to zoom in or out to the limit level.
   • When the preview rectangle is zoomed out: to see that part of your screen is magnified, enable this feature. It will appear as a black rectangle on the screen.
   • Smooth Image: Check this to add a smooth function to the magnified screen. Although it can improve the appearance of magnified images, it still makes the text appear somewhat blurry.
   • Zoom in with keyboard focus: When you zoom in and type some text that enlarges the area boundaries, the screen keeps track of your cursor so that your text is always visible.
   • Continuous use of pointers: when zoomed in, the screen moves continuously as you move the cursor.
   • Only when the pointer reaches an edge: your screen stays in place until the cursor reaches the edge of the screen.
   • When the pointer is in or near the center of the image: This lets your cursor stop at the center of the screen, only the screen moves.
   • If your mouse has a scroll wheel, you can press and hold the secondary key and scroll. Using the scroll wheel provides a smooth, slow amplification and exit, rather than a quick zoom in or zoom out to a predetermined limit level. Click in the field, and then press your preferred secondary key to set the combined secondary key.
   • When you are finished setting options, click the Finish button.

Method 3: Zoom in the window

1. 1 magnification window. Click this check box, and a magnifying glass zooms in on everything underneath it instead of zooming in on the entire screen. Like the zoom screen, you can use (control-option-equals or minus) to adjust the zoom level.  
2. 2 click Options. Like normal zoom, zooming in on a window has a set of options, as shown in the image below.
   • magnification: When you activate the window zoom (command-option-8), set the zoom level.
   • fixed: When the window position is set to fixed, the Zoom window appears in the center of the display, and the cursor position determines what is displayed within the window.
   • Follow the mouse cursor: The window remains under your cursor and can be dragged anywhere. This is similar to the use of a real magnifying glass.
   • tile along the edge: sets the zoom area to a full-length column on the left side of the display, showing the zoom content that tracks your cursor.
   • Reverses the color, white turns black, black turns white, and green turns purple.
   • Smooth Image: Smooths the edges of text and images.
   • zoom in with keyboard focus: When you zoom in and type in some text that zooms out of the bounds of the window, the cursor hovers over the center of the window while the zoomed-in section tracks your keyboard focus, usually the cursor or input field.
   • to enable temporary scaling: pressing and holding the control-option key pops up a zoom window, which is the current one as long as you hold down the secondary key. When you let go, the window disappears.
   • speech item under mouse after inertia: Any text under your cursor will be read. You can set the delay time from "regular", i.e. instantaneous, to "longest", which is approximately five seconds.
   • Enable zoom in with the scroll wheel and secondary key to let the mouse control your zoom. To set a hotkey, press and hold the desired single-key or multiple-key. The available keys are only the SHIFT key, the control key, the command key, and the option key.
   • Resize and position: Press this key to resize and set the default location for any window you choose to display. ^[1]
    

Little Tips

• Familiarity with hotkey combinations, even if you don't have visual impairments, can be a handy feature to zoom in quickly, whether you just need a close-up or show up in the distance of the room.

How to zoom in on a Mac